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My Essential Travel List

I was asked today what I used the most when I travel.  Everyone is different when it comes to packing clothes, what types to buy, how to fold them, etc. as well as brands of luggage and so on (which I definitely have opinions on), so I won't focus on that.  Instead, here are a few things I've found indispensable for travel that aren't a part of those core items.

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  1. Jawbone Jambox  - Music is a critical part of my life.  This Bluetooth speaker has quality sound and has an internal battery charged via USB.  This means I can place it anywhere and not worry about cables while playing music from my iPhone or iPad (or any other bluetooth device).  Not enough to justify taking up space in your bag? No worries, it's also a quality Bluetooth speakerphone for your cellphone and makes holding group conference calls simple no matter where you are.  (Hat tip to Tom Webster for demoing one to me)
  2. Zip-Lock Bags - As an old habit from camping, I always have several 2 gallon and 1 gallon Zip-Lock bags when I travel.  These have by far been the most useful items over the years.  A washcloth soaked in hot water and put into a Zip-Lock becomes an instant heating pad.  Fill one with ice and you have an ice pack.   You get the idea.
  3. Flushable Wipes - In addition to the potential for "TMI" here (say what you will, some things are important to me...and that sandpaper they call toilet paper in some airports and hotels is a crime against humanity) , they are super handy for cleaning up spills on your electronics, wiping your face and hands on planes, etc.
  4. ID - Go to your local DMV and get a "Non-Drivers License" ID.  Keep this ID, and a primary credit card in your pocket (or a travel pouch that hangs around your neck) with your boarding passes.  Keep your wallet/purse in your carry on if possible.  The name of the game here is to insure you have *2* forms of ID when you travel, and to always keep those ID's and your credit cards divided into two separate locations in case a bag gets lost/stolen.  In addition, I'm a big believer in doing everything possible to expedite getting through security so I keep nothing in my pockets that I can't walk through the X-Rays with.  If it's international travel then you can use your passport as your second ID.  I'm a big fan of the functionality and convenience of travel wallets around the neck, but rarely wear mine unless it's an international trip due to my vanity.
  5. Toiletries - Get a hanging toiletry kit, and buy extras of what you need to fully pack everything (except liquids) into it without having to use anything from your home supplies.  Being able to toss it into your bag without worrying if you remembered everything and having it ready at a moments notice is a major convenience.  Use a clear zip-lock bag for your liquids and place it into the easiest to access pocket of one of your carry on items since you'll have to remove it to go through security.  Also, while 'travel sized' items may take up less room you'll constantly be having to replace them or frequently run out while on the road.  So I tend to buy full size items in most cases and I buy my own bottles at The Container Store and fill them myself if the original products container is an odd shape, prone to leakage, or simply larger than allowed by the TSA. (or buy this TSA compliant set here )
  6. Computer Bag: I use a backpack computer bag instead of a laptop bag as I find it easier on my back.  Regardless of your preference, I recommend a TSA approved "Checkpoint Friendly" bag that allows you to leave your laptop in the bag while going through the X-Ray instead of having to remove it.
  7. Electronics:
    1. iGo Charge Anywhere Universal Power Extender - This has dual USB ports which you can plug in any of your USB powered devices (which these days is just about everything), in my case an iPhone, iPad, and Jambox when traveling.  In addition, the unit is a rechargeable battery which can power your devices when it's unplugged as well when you need additional power on the go.  Note: When plugging in an iPad it will say that it's not charging, however it is charging albeit more slowly than the iPad brick.  
    2. Mophie Juice Pack Plus case for iPhone - This is a case which not only protects your phone, but is an extended battery which doubles the battery life of the phone.  When combined with the iGo charger above you can literally get a few days of use out of your iPhone (or a full day at a conference with constant heavy use).  Another benefit (to me) is that the case has a micro-usb port for charging it instead of using the Apple-only iPhone connector.  I have a love/hate relationship with this device.  I'm on my third unit now due to a poorly manufactured micro-usb connector on the case which breaks easily.  I don't know if they've fixed this issue yet, they've provided me a RMA number in the past and wanted me to return my broken unit before sending me a replacement but that's just too much of a pain.
    3. iPhone 4 
    4. iPad - I've begun trying to travel without my laptop and only using the iPad.  For the most part this hasn't caused me much of a hardship on short trips, but it's definitely no substitute when it comes to wanting to write or you need to build a presentation, etc.  Note: You do not have to remove your iPad from your luggage when going through security like you do a laptop.
    5. Verizon Mi-Fi - Provides a wireless access point for all my devices at once using my cellular connection for internet access.  Invaluable.
    6. Portable Wireless Access Point - Plug into the hotels ethernet and create your own wireless access point.  Why?  It insures you're not sharing the hotels crappy wireless network and instead using the more stable wired network.  This also is much more secure than using the hotels unsecured wireless.
    7. Apps:
      1. Travel Tracker Pro - When used in combination with TripIt.com it is simply the best travel itinerary tool out there. Period.  Its updates and notices are the best I've found as well, I often know about delays and gate changes before they are even posted at the airport, and when no one at the airport seems to be able to tell you the carousel that your luggage you'll already know.
      2. FlightTrack -  Ostensibly this is a tool for tracking a individual flight, however I rarely use it for that.  You can search for any flights going from point A to point B, or look at an entire airports departures (the iPad version of this view is great).  For those of you who've had as many flights cancelled as I have you will immediately recognize how beneficial it is to easily know every flight leaving an airport regardless of airline so that you can begin finding another way to your destination.
      3. Taxi Magic - While not in every major city (primarily those in which you wouldn't need it anyway...like New York) this makes it simple to have a cab pick you up.  It tells me when the taxi is dispatched, the name of the driver, the number of the cab, and the estimated charge.  It also integrates into TripIt.com so that I can more easily keep up with expenses.
      4. Hipmunk - I'm in love with the Hipmunk website, and when they came out with an app interface I was ecstatic.  If you need to find or book a flight Hipmunk's user interface is about as good as it gets and it sorts flights not only by things like 'time', or 'price' but by a genius sorting of 'agony' based upon number of segments, amount of time duration, etc.  I also use SkyScanner periodically when I'm simply looking for the best price on a flight (you would think it would be simple to find out when the cheapest times to fly to a specific place are, you'd be wrong.  This app helps in that regard)
      5. Airline Specific - While I'd prefer not to have them at all, you'll want to have each of the apps of the major airlines that you travel on installed.  I rarely use them, but when you need upgrades, frequent flier perks, etc. there really isn't another way to accomplish that on another app.
      6. Hotel - I'm not as picky about hotel apps, or at least none have jumped out at me as being far above and beyond the others.  I use Kayak periodically, but any suggestions for a 'must have' app here are welcome.
      7. White Noise Pro - (iPad) This is both my sound machine at night as well as my alarm clock.  Having a sound machine in a hotel room is a must for me and this fits the bill nicely, as well as displaying a large digital clock on the screen viewable from across the room.
      8. {Added} Yelp & OpenTable - Don't know how I forgot this one, but thanks Amber for the reminder.  A person has to eat (or find a pharmacy, whatever) and there's no better way to find a place and get a reservation than Yelp and OpenTable
    8. Websites:
      1. TripIt.com - By far the most useful, and ridiculously easy to use travel tool in the world.  Simply forward any email receipts you get from booking a flight, hotel, car rental, etc....regardless of where you booked it...and it immediately creates an accurate itinerary for you.  If you've booked hotels, restaurants, etc. in your itinerary it will also include things like directions from one location to another, weather for each day of travel, etc.
      2. Hipmunk.com - Easiest way to find and book flights.  Period. (they've recently added hotel bookings as well)
      3. Farecompare.com - If you have as much flexibility about where you work as I do then often it's less about *where* you travel to or *when*..sometimes you just want to ask "hey, where are the places with the best flight deals in the next couple of months?".  Very few places can you get an easy answer to that question..FareCompare.com has a genius "Getaway Map" that I use frequently.  Why they make it so difficult to find I have no idea.
So those are some of my essential tools and items.  What are yours?

Cheers,

Matt Ridings - @techguerilla